Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore UCLA Research Grants
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore research grants to UCLA that were rescinded in late July, citing allegations of campus antisemitism, admissions practices, and recognition of transgender identities. Judge Audrey Lin issued the injunction, rebuffing the government’s argument that individual researchers lacked standing to sue over the grant suspensions, as the funds are awarded to the university itself. Lin asserted that the court “will not shut its doors” to researchers seeking redress for violations of their constitutional and statutory rights.
the rescinded grants totaled $584 million,including $81 million from the National Science Foundation – which Lin had previously restored – and $3 million from the Department of Energy,which remains suspended.The administration had proposed a roughly $1.2-billion fine and demanded notable changes to UCLA’s policies regarding admissions,protest rules,gender-affirming healthcare for minors,and internal record disclosure in exchange for restoring the remaining funds.
UCLA maintains it has already implemented changes to improve the campus climate for Jewish students and does not utilize race in admissions. Chancellor Julio Frenk has argued that withholding research funding is ineffective in addressing alleged discrimination. University of California leaders have stated they will not pay the proposed $1.2-billion fine and are currently negotiating with the Trump administration,though many settlement proposals are considered unacceptable.
The grant suspensions have created significant hardship for UCLA researchers. Labs have reduced hours and operations, and layoffs were considered. Neil Garg, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry whose $2.9 million grant was suspended, expressed relief at the injunction, stating his colleagues and he had been aggressively seeking choice funding. Elle Rathbun, a neuroscience doctoral candidate, also saw a $160,000 NIH grant for stroke recovery research suspended, and emphasized the precariousness of research funding.
While the injunction offers immediate relief, researchers like Garg acknowledge uncertainty remains regarding the speed and permanence of the restored funding. The case has been closely followed by the UCLA research community as the situation enters its second month.
